Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I do not read many of the UK papers. There is no question of a target for refusal of applications being introduced. That does not form part of the process. There is no intention to introduce here the British mechanism referred to by Deputy Ó Snodaigh. We have reduced waiting times significantly over recent times. It is our intention to continue to reduce waiting times further.

On the decision making process as referred to by Deputy Boyd Barrett, the process is not one of ticking boxes. All of the information provided is considered and examined, including information provided by the medical assessor. A diagnosis is not questioned, rather a decision is based on the application as a whole. A medical diagnosis forms only part of an application. The decision must be based on whether a person is permanently incapable of work for the purpose of invalidity pension. While a person may be diagnosed as having a sore back and so on that diagnosis would not mean that a person is permanently incapable of taking up employment. Decision-making in that regard comes within the remit of the medical assessor. The diagnosis is not over-ruled, rather it forms part of the overall decision. As I said, the process is not a tick-box exercise.

Following the recent recruitment campaign we hope to have new medical assessors in the Department shortly. Offers of positions will be sent out soon. It is hoped that these offers will be taken up. It was mentioned to me that often not everybody who is offered a job takes it up. We have a problem in this area. It is hoped that additional staff will assist us in addressing that problem. This is a rational and logical step.